A month had gone by and Kenneth could feel her body getting stronger. She could finally see her muscles getting more defined and her endurance increasing by the day. She was nowhere near the level she used to be, but she was happy with her results thus far.
Today was an important day since they would be meeting all of the core Venture members and would finally find out what the trials would consist of this year. The students sat down in a row as they looked up, staring in awe at the members as they stood tall, their aura powerful and strong, brimming with energy.
This would be their first time seeing all the members present in the same room, at least for the first and second years. Kenneth noticed three members she had never seen before. They each stepped forward to introduce themselves to the students.
"Hello everyone, I'm Diaphine Eaglewood. It's great to meet you all!" She greeted them with a warm, beaming smile. Diaphine had shoulder-length hair, with ashy blond on top and salmon pink on the bottom, creating a striking contrast. Her almond-shaped eyes that were gold in color sparkled, complemented by a cute button nose and well-defined bone structure and her olive complexion. Diaphine had a tall, athletic build, and was one of the strongest members of Venture, second only to Herys. Her cheerful greeting and radiant personality instantly conveyed her kindness and vibrant energy.
The second person to introduce themselves was a tall boy with an expressionless face. He had wavy, milk chocolate-colored hair that framed his face, contrasting with his grey, almost lavender eyes. His downturned eyes were framed by long lashes, and his shapely lips added to his striking appearance. His brown skin complemented his tall, well-built physique. Miles sported three piercings on each ear and a nose ring, adding to his slightly edgy look. Though he came off as a bit cold, his body language was overall laid-back and the kids could feel that although his aura was relaxed, it carried a certain sharpness making him look like a skilled Fighter.
"Hi I'm Miles." Was all he said before stepping back. The other members took no notice of his cold attitude while the other students looked at each other wondering if he was in a bad mood.
The other more well known members introduced themselves afterwards with Ehioze being their favorite with a chill and kind attitude making them feel at ease. Finally the last person to introduce themselves was a girl who's expression was similar to Miles' but a little more stoic.
"Hello students. My name is Sooyun Lee. I look forward to seeing how skilled you all are."
Her greeting was simple and straightforward as if she was a teacher introducing herself to her new students. Sooyun had long, silky black hair that cascaded down to her tailbone, with bangs framing her face. Her piercing almond-shaped black eyes gave her an almost feline allure, enhancing her intimidating presence. Fierce and uncompromising, Sooyun commanded respect in the room and Kenneth could tell that she was the kind of person you couldn't mess with. Despite her intimidating demeanor, she was undeniably beautiful, with a delicate, doll-like beauty combined with a statuesque appearance and a tall and limber figure. She exuded the aura of a strong and reliable leader. If the students weren't aware of the fact that Lucien was the captain, they would believe that she was the one in charge.
Once the introductions were done, Alcione stepped forward.
Alcione had short silver hair with subtle specks of white that shimmered under the light, adding a touch of elegance to his look. His pale skin provided a striking contrast to his sharp teal eyes, which, despite their intense clarity, exuded a surprising warmth and depth. His features were impeccably symmetrical, with full, pink lips that naturally curved into a welcoming smile. Alcione's appearance was both enchanting and refined, accentuated by his straight and graceful posture. Known throughout the school for his warm and smiley personality, he effortlessly combined beauty with a genuine friendliness, making him a comforting and captivating presence in the room filled with giants.
"With the introductions now made, let's get down to business. The Isosceles Trials will be taking place five months from now and will be hosted in Lapis . We will be leaving Toleran two weeks in advance in order to get there on time and also get acquainted with the city. We will be going into the travel details once the date approaches but just be aware that we will be departing a little earlier." Alcione explained in a calm voice making the students listen intently.
"Now the tournament will be like the others, with ten levels and you will need to make it past five levels in order to qualify for the finals. There will be two hundred more participants so it will be taking place in a span of five days if everything goes well."
"All forms of fighting are allowed, and you will be required to bring your weapons with you. You will each be gaining ranks with each match you win. You will start at the bottom which is level one and will progress with each level you manage to win. It's important to know that the closer you get to the fifth level, the harder it's going to be, each level representing a specific level of combat proficiency. The rules will be explained to you in greater detail once we will get there since unfortunately this is all the information that I can provide you with for the time being."
Alcione then passed the baton to another member, Ehioze, this time he looked at the nervous students with a reassuring smile on his face.
"Relax guys. If you all managed to be picked for this tournament, then that means you have what it takes to win. Although winning is important, the judges will also be looking at your skills as a Fighter and the techniques you use to win. Most of your points will be going towards technique which is why we will help you train in order to enhance your skills and abilities. It's important to have and to know more than one way of fighting which is why for the next three months we will be training with you guys personally and you will get to see the different ways in which we fight. "
This time Claudette stepped up, putting her arm around Ehioze's shoulder.
"We will be teaching you guys everything we know with the limited time we have so make sure to buckle up since it'll be a bumpy ride." She chuckled ruefully, indicating that her joke was in fact not a joke.
Ehioze shot her a 'damn straight' look which made the student swallow their saliva.
"Now, we will be doing a series of sparring matches between all of you in order to give us a better idea on how to train you and see what needs to be fixed." Sooyun informed them.
Five minutes later…
Kenneth finds herself face to face with Evaun, thirty seven pairs of eyes on them excluding their trainers as they prepare to fight each other.
"You guys can start when you are ready. Make sure to give it your all." Sooyun said.
Kenneth, standing at 6'0" with a fierce glint in her eye, bounced lightly on her feet. Her posture was loose yet controlled, as her body brimmed with anticipation. She felt the familiar surge of adrenaline, her mind clear and focused. She thrived on the energy of the fight, ready to let out some of the steam she had been bottling up for the past weeks.
Evaun, towering at 6'6'' with a lean but powerful build, adopted a steady, grounded stance. His eyes were sharp, assessing Kenneth's every movement trying to figure how he'd fight her. He felt a calm intensity, his mind working through possible scenarios and counters. Evaun was determined to use his height and reach to his advantage, but also felt a tinge of frustration as he knew Kenneth despite her looks had the ability to outmatch him. As the sparring began, Kenneth launched forward with a jab aimed at Evaun's torso. The forceful aggression in her movements reflected her confidence and desire to dominate the match quickly. Evaun sidestepped gracefully, his mind racing through tactical responses. His high kick aimed at Kenneth's shoulder was precise but failed to connect fully. Evaun felt a flicker of irritation but quickly suppressed it, refocusing.
Kenneth, undeterred by the sidestep, retaliated with a sharp low kick aimed at Evaun's knee. She felt a rush of satisfaction when her kick made contact, feeling Evaun's defense falter slightly. Evaun blocked the kick as his expression remained calm. He absorbed the blow with a stoic expression, although a trace of discomfort seeped through. He was having a hard time anticipating Kenneth's next moves since she was an unpredictable fighter. Her moves were wild and unconventional utilizing many wing chun techniques in order to minimize the damage to her hands making it almost impossible to shake her down. Despite his irritation, his focus never waned as he threw a series of calculated punches, each one designed to probe Kenneth's defenses. Evaun's strategic moves were a blend of mental and physical effort. He relished the opportunity to test break Kenneth's composure but was acutely aware of her superior focus and unadulterated confidence. When Kenneth executed a spinning backfist, Evaun ducked just in time, feeling a mix of relief and urgency. Kenneth's subsequent side kick pushed him back, eliciting a grunt from him. Evaun's frustration grew, but he tried to keep it in check, knowing it was crucial to stay calm and composed.
Evaun was a mentalist and knew how to trigger people psychologically. He was good at reading people's emotions especially through their fists. There was a time when he seriously wondered whether he was Empath because of how well he could read people. Given his years of experience, Evaun could break almost anyone he fought so you could imagine his surprise when he was faced with an opponent who exhibited zero emotions through their fist. Every hit and every strike was free of any emotions. Evaun couldn't sense a single thing, not fear, not impatience, anger or nervousness. Yet he could see in her eyes that she was beyond elated at the prospect of having to fight.
Evaun found Kenneth to be strange. He couldn't figure her out and he started to get uncomfortable the more he fought with her.
Kenneth on the other hand felt a surge of exhilaration as she saw Evaun stagger. Her confidence soared, and she pressed her advantage with a series of low, sharp kicks. She thrived on her agility and felt a sense of control as she saw Evaun struggling to maintain his footing. The rapid pace and relentless assault were exhilarating for her, pushing her to maintain her aggressive approach.
The students who had been watching on the side couldn't hide their amazement when watching the two fight. Evaun was a skilled Fighter and most people avoided fighting him at all cost because of how tricky he was. But it seemed like Kenneth was having no trouble at all as she pushed him back, the winner already obvious to them.
Evaun, meanwhile, was on the defensive, his mind racing to adjust his strategy. He used his height advantage to create space and threw feints to disrupt Kenneth's rhythm. Each failed feint was a small setback, and he felt a mounting pressure as Kenneth's movements became increasingly relentless. Despite his efforts to regain control, he was beginning to feel the strain of the fight.
When Kenneth ducked under Evaun's high kick and executed a decisive knee to his midsection, Evaun felt a sharp, winded pain. It was a moment of vulnerability, and he struggled to catch his breath. Kenneth's efficient and powerful strikes left him feeling overwhelmed, his previous strategic advantage slipping away.
As Kenneth delivered the final combination of strikes, she felt a surge of satisfaction and a sense of mastery. Her focused aggression had paid off. Seeing Evaun on his knees, Kenneth experienced a mix of triumph and respect. She was pleased with her performance but also acknowledged the skill and strategy Evaun had brought to the match.
Evaun, now on one knee, caught his breath and felt a mix of exhaustion and frustration. He knew the fight was over even before Sooyun called it. He was impressed by Kenneth's skill and despite the outcome, he knew he'd have to adapt and refine his approach. As Kenneth stood over him, he offered a nod of acknowledgment, his feelings of defeat tempered by a resolve to improve.
The match ended with Kenneth's win.